Improvement in clothes-pins



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MAYO, OF MENASHA, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT lN CLOTH ES-PINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,138, dated March 23, 1875 application led January 18, 1875. i

will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in a clothes-pin made of a single piece of wood with four prongs, the two outside prongs supporting the two inner ones, so as to secure liexibility, strength, and durability, as will he hereinafter more fully set forth.

The annexed drawing represents .a side View of my invention.

My clothes-pin is made of a single piece of Wood of suitable dimensions, from one end of which, inward, is cut a central longitudinal slot, a. On each side of this slot, and a suitable distance therefrom, is cut an inclined slot, b, thereby forming four prongs, A A and B B, as shown. The inner prongs, A A, are

formed in the usual manner for clothes-pins, so as to have a aring mouth, d, and each prong A has on its inner side a recess, e, for the clothes-line to pass through, or rather for the prongs to grasp the line at that point.

The two outside prongs, B B, are shorter than the inside ones, so that their ends will come in Contact with the inside prongs, A A, nearly opposite to the recesses e, where the line comes when in use.

The inclination-of the side slots b b is such as to make the middle prongs A iexible at the roots, and the outside prongs B more exible at the points, which will prevent the prongs from spreading too far, which would destroy the pin. rIhe side prongs B thus support the inner prongs A, making the Whole clothes-pin strong and durable, at the same time that it insures the required amount of iiexibility.

I am aware of Patent No. 64,698, and make no claim to anything shown therein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

As an improved article of manufacture, the pin herein described, formed of a single piece of wood with inner prongs A, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, and the outer prongs B of reverse construction, to give strength and elasticity, all as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix Iny signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM, H. MAYO.

Witnesses:

CHARLES NoYEs, IEA W. DAvIs. 

